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Meal Plan Mondays & Hazelnut Sandies with Barberries

Lots of yummies on this weeks list! But first, how about a cookie recipe?

I know you’ve been waiting for the English translation of the last Francophone Fridays post, the sablés aux noisettes aux baies de bérberies (dans la langue de Molière) or Hazelnut Sandies with barberries (in the language of Shakespeare).

When the adorable Mihl and P. finally came visit us last year, they came with loads of goodies for us to eat. One of the special treats they lugged with them across Europe (well, from Germany to south-western France anyway) was a bag of beautiful dried barberries! Mihl uses them in some of the many recipes she has on her blog Seitan Is My Motor, and I couldn’t wait to try them for myself! If you’re unfamiliar with these tart Persian berries, you can read a little over at Wiki if you’d like.

Once I had the coveted berries in my possession, I found myself wondering what to do with the little gems. I had too many ideas, but a limited supply of berries, and I didn’t want to squander them on just any-old recipe where dried cranberries or currents could be used. Then, it hit me (gently, I wasn’t harmed).

We have lots of things in common, my dear Mihl and I, among which dear memories of our sweet grandmothers. I decided to honor their memories with these cookies, heavily-inspired by one of my great-grandmother’s recipes. These sablés (sugar cookies) or “sandies” as my great-grandmother Mary called them, are subtle and sophisticated with a lovely duo of textures : crumbly, buttery sugar cookie and sweet and tart dried barberries. The ground hazelnuts add just a hint of bitterness which plays wonderfully with the brown sugar-encrusted cookies. If you don’t have barberries, dried unsweetened cranberries would work well, though I would probably dice them up, or try dried currents.

Hazelnut Sandies with Barberries

For about 40 cookies – advance preparation required!

2 tsp Ener-g Egg Replacer

2 tbsp water

175 g non-dairy butter, room temperature

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla extract

180 g sifted powdered sugar

300 g AP flour

2 tbsp cornstarch

1 tbsp baking powder (11 g)

120 g ground hazelnuts

110 g dried barberries (or cranberries)

4 tbsp brown sugar

1) In a large bowl combine the flour, cornstarch, powdered sugar, baking powder and ground hazelnuts. Set aside.

2) In a small mixing bowl or in a food processor, whip the water and Ener-G until it’s frothy, at least 3 minutes.

3) With an electric mixer, cream the powdered sugar and butter until it’s light and fluffy, then add the Ener-G, lemon juice, and vanilla. Continue mixing until well combined.

4) Now add the flour, a little at a time, then fold in the barberries. Divide the dough in two.

5) Spread half of the brown sugar on a piece of tinfoil about 30 cm long. Lightly flour your hands, and roll one half of the dough into a log about 20 cm long. If you’re having a difficult time working with your dough, try dusting it with some flour, a little at a time, and it will be easier to work with. Go with your gut, and if the dough is very sticky, just knead a little flour in until it’s “workable”.

6) Gently roll the log through the brown sugar, covering the exterior. Add a little sugar to the foil if there are some sugar-free spots. Roll up the log with the foil, twisting the ends shut. Do the same with the other half of the dough, and refrigerate for at least two hours.

7) Pre-heat the oven to 175°c and prepare two cookie sheets with silicon mats or parchment paper. Gently unroll the dough and slice cookies 15mm thick, wiping the knife clean each time. If you’re having a difficult time slicing the cookies, don’t fret! Just cover it back up and put it in the freezer for about 15 minutes, then try again.

VIII) Bake for about 13 minutes, until they are just firm and lightly browned on the bottom. Let them cool slightly for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack.

Now for this week’s Meal Plan :

Monday : crêpes sucrées et salées (savory and sweet crêpes) with sautéed mushrooms and onions for the savory, and powdered sugar and lemon juice for the sweet. So. good.

Tuesday : Risotto with mushrooms and peas, served with braised dandelion greens.

Do you blog your weekly meal plans? Super-cool world-traveler Vegan Snorkler has one up today. Let me know, I’d love to link to your plan to share the planning mojo with everyone. And don’t forget, if you’re looking for meal plan inspiration you can visit the MPM archives.

i’ve never heard of barberries until Mihl talked about them. that’s too cool, Shelly! my grandmother used to bake the hell outta some cookies, although to my knowledge she never attempted sandies. your description of sandies made my heart go squeeeee! their texture and flavor is amazing, and i hope some day i can create a gluten-free sandie and then eat them all!!! might i also add that i’m totally jealousfaced your a taster for The Urban Vegan – AND polenta and garlicky gravy sounds heavenly! mmmmmmm!

oh! i haven’t had a sandy since i was just a child! i had forgotten how awesome they are. i’ll have to make your recipe (but with currants, probably, since i have never seen that type of berry around here). and your meal plan looks wonderful! i do a meal plan every week, but i blog about it after the week is over. i’ll have to start doing it at the beginning so i can get in on the action 🙂